Hampton VA to expand mental health staff

HAMPTON — — As part of a nationwide push, the Hampton VA Medical Center is hiring additional mental health clinicians to keep up with the rising tide of returning veterans.

The VA estimates that Hampton will be able to hire eight mental health clinicians and one support person to augment its existing staff. Currently, more than 190 clinicians and support staff work with veterans in Hampton Roads.

In April, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced plans to hire 1,600 mental health clinicians and nearly 300 support staff in VA facilities across the country.

Now that the funds have been distributed, the hiring scenario is being repeated all over the country and elsewhere in Virginia. In southwest Virginia, the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center plans to hire 11 clinicians and two support staff, the Associated Press reported. It currently employs 220 mental health workers.

The VA anticipates that most clinicians and support staff will be hired locally. Since 2009, the VA has increased its mental health care budget by 39 percent to keep up with increased demand. It has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of veterans receiving mental health care since 2007.